Presbyterian Coalition Gathering X 'You told us you wanted to see more unity in renewal work' By Parker T. Williamson The Layman Online Thursday, August 16, 2007 Terry Schlossberg HOUSTON – "You told us you wanted to see more unity in renewal work," Terry Schlossberg, executive director of the Presbyterian Coalition, told participants in Gathering X during her keynote address, "Let Us Rise Up and Build" "Let Us Rise Up and Build!" had been revealed several weeks earlier on the Coalition's Web site in the hope that it might provide those who attended an opportunity to study matters that would be discussed during Gathering X at Grace Presbyterian Church. The plan consists of an 11-page, single-spaced document and a 42-page Appendix, complete with models and suggestions on methods for implementing the plan. Reinforced in the plan is the Coalition's conviction that the Presbyterian Church (USA) is worth saving and that evangelicals in the denomination, empowered by attending to Scripture, loving Jesus Christ and in reliance on the Holy Spirit, can effect its transformation. 97 people attended the Gathering on Wednesday. In the past, Gatherings had attracted as many as 1,300 participants. In Houston, 97 people – occasionally swelling to 125, as anticipated from pre-registrations – participated Wednesday. Nonetheless, Coalition leaders reminded the audience of Gideon's astounding victory over massive majorities. Schlossberg said "Let Us Rise Up and Build" was the result of an assignment that had been given to her board by those who gathered at Coalition IX last year in Atlanta. She said that, while her group was unable to achieve a merger of the denomination's various renewal organizations, she did believe they were more united than divided. "We speak the same theological language, and a deep bond of friendship exists among us," she said. Schlossberg reported that a meeting of renewal organization leaders was held in which their differences were honestly shared. Some are giving leadership to congregations that seek to leave the denomination. Others are working for renewal within the denomination. Still others are struggling with "a high level of uncertainty," she said. "In the end, we acknowledged that we are nonetheless unified, and I do not mean to make light of that. Our unity statement was an important moment for all of us." Protecting ordination standards Schlossberg said the second assignment given to the Coalition was to lead the evangelical response and provide resources in the aftermath of the 2006 General Assembly. She reported that, despite the decision of that assembly allowing governing bodies to set aside the Constitution's ordination standards, many congregations and presbyteries have enacted declarations that they will not allow exceptions. "Court challenges have broken out over presbyteries' public affirmation that they will uphold the Constitution," she said. "We continue to combat the notion that ordination standards are optional," she said. Greater prayer emphasis "You asked us to take prayer more seriously," Schlossberg said. "We have grasped Ephesians and put on the whole armor of God with prayer in the center of our efforts. You will find an emphasis on prayer at this meeting, both alone and together. It is the Lord's favor and help that we seek in renewing His church." Promoting the plan "You asked us for a plan," she said. Emphasizing that the draft was an unfinished product, she said, "We bring it to you as work to be done and an invitation that we do this work together." Schlossberg said that, while the plan offers an honest appraisal "of the condition that we are in," its focus is on building. The crisis of faith and life now facing the Presbyterian Church (USA) is not new, she said. "Historically, the church has always needed reformation. Reform was the work of the prophets in the Old Testament and the apostles in the New. … What matters most is not the condition we are in, but what we do with the condition that we are in." Schlossberg said the plan places the denomination's disarray "in historical context." Then, she said, "it moves the church from its current state of ruin to a more hopeful and faithful future, including goals and suggestions for implementing each goal." An important part of the plan, she said, is its 42-page Appendix. "Here you will see what others are doing as models for meeting the goals. … It includes strategies for building Biblical literacy in the congregation, examining elders' fitness for leadership, mission and evangelism. These are ideas and models to be spread among us." "We hope that you will find this plan takes seriously the urgency of the situation that we are in," Schlossberg said. "We recognize that the state of our common life is in peril … In the aftermath of PUP [the 2006 General Assembly's 'Peace, Unity, and Purity' decision that undermined constitutional standards], we are all wondering if we are still under a constitution. Some of us are waiting for the courts of the church to test this for us. A better plan is to go back to the [2008] General Assembly with a denominational requirement that returns the church to Biblical integrity and faithfulness." The Coalition leader concluded her address by calling attention to Amazing Grace, a film on the life and work of England's reformer, William Wilberforce. With a purposeful look at her sparse audience, Schlossberg commended the movie for offering "just a glimpse of the little army that he led." The Rev. Parker T. Williamson is editor emeritus of The Layman and The Layman Online.

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